by Ted Sherman

Created on: September 27, 2008

There's just one word that serves as the solid base for families that start, live and expand in harmony. The word is love. When the relationship between the mother and father evolved from true love, it sets the pattern for all family happiness to follow.

At first, of course, there's the physical attraction. In America, it is all gussied and hyped up by TV, pop music, movies, fashions, locker rooms and all other kinds of commercialized excitement. However, no matter how its dressed up or undressed, basically it is just Mother Nature's way of getting the males and females together so that they will keep the human species going.

This kind of sexual excitement is often filled with promises of undying love, and may seem important while it is happening. However, it is only the first small step on the road to building a harmonious family. Next, after the sex cools down a bit, comes promises of commitment.

Whether it is by the traditional wedding ceremony, a Las Vegas chapel quickie or just an agreement to occupy the same nest together, the family starts with those promises. And if the mating, both night and day, continues to be harmonious, the next member of the family will soon be on the way.

Then comes the shared joys and responsibilities of pregnancy and parenthood. What can be more harmonious than seeing your first-born enter the world? In my family, my memory goes back over the years to waiting with a group of other nervous dads-to-be in the waiting room of the city hospital's maternity ward.

For me the waiting stretched out to nearly eight hours, and I complained bitterly when some guys came and were told of their baby's arrival after only a few minutes. It just wasn't fair! I was angry at my wife for taking so long, but when our little boy arrived, it was all worth it. We were now a family! And when his little sister arrived three years later, we were a complete family.

At the time, we never thought specifically in terms of family harmony. My wife and I were older than most new parents, so we just set up reasonable rules of behavior and responsibility for each of us as we all progressed together. Although there were the usual bumps along the way, I believe we succeeded in raising our two children in a loving, harmonious environment.

Maybe our most effective attempt at family harmony was at our nightly dinner table round-up. Although both my wife and I were professionals, with very busy work schedules, we made certain we presided over the evening meal at least five

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